British Defence Secretary John Healey has resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government following a prolonged dispute over military spending, accusing the administration of failing to provide adequate resources to safeguard the country against growing security threats.
Healey announced his resignation on Thursday, citing what he described as the government's inability to commit the level of funding required to strengthen Britain's defence capabilities amid an increasingly uncertain global security environment.
In a resignation letter addressed to Starmer, Healey criticised both the prime minister and the Treasury for delaying critical decisions on defence funding despite months of discussions on the future of military investment.
“You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” Healey wrote.
The resignation follows months of negotiations between Britain’s Ministry of Defence and the Treasury over plans to increase military spending and modernise the country's armed forces. The disagreement has delayed the publication of the government's Defence Investment Plan, a key policy document expected to outline future defence priorities and funding commitments.
Healey argued that the funding package under consideration fell short of what was required to improve military readiness and respond effectively to emerging security challenges. He warned that continued underinvestment could weaken the nation’s defence posture at a time of heightened global tensions.
The development represents a significant setback for Starmer’s administration and is likely to intensify scrutiny of the government’s approach to national security and defence funding.
The British government is expected to move ahead with plans to publish its long-awaited Defence Investment Plan in the coming months as pressure mounts for greater military preparedness in response to evolving international threats.
Healey’s departure marks one of the most significant cabinet resignations in recent times and highlights growing divisions within government over how to balance defence priorities with broader economic and fiscal considerations.
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